High Wire Eire: Kennedys in Britain

Since Churchill has a domestic program in 1945 ITTL, the Tories won with a reduced majority. IOTL they were in power between 1935-45 and 1951-64. So I'm only adding one additional term over OTL. What's so unbelievable? There's another TL detailing a "Churchill in '45" government. Many butterflies and PODs, because there is no NHS or Attlee reforms, the UK is not in the EEC, and a few others.
 
I'm not saying a Tory victory in 1945 is implausible (though I think it unlikely).

What I'm saying is that a Conservative administration for thirty four years seems too long. Looking back, in modern times, the longest a single party has held power is 1979 to 1997 - 18 years, under Thatcher and then Major.

I cannot see how the butterflies won't kick in if you have the Conservatives win in 1945. A Labour administration (or just an 'alternative' administration) sometime in the 1950s will happen - If not 1950 then 1954. People in the country will just get sick of the same party and kick them out.

I notice how, despite things starting to to deviate in British politics back in the 1930's, you end up with OTL Ted Heath losing to Harold Wilson on 27th February 1970 - one day different from OTL (though you do at least avoid the minority government fiasco). I just don't see things panning out quite the same.
 
Well, what I did do is have the South African deals, and had Heath implement more of his programme than OTL. There are Labour governments, but very unpleasant memories. Bipartisan appeasement in the Thirties, business as usual in the Fifties, and the Sixties similar to OTL. Whenever a Labour government is in power ITTL, there's domestic strife (excepting Heath). There will be a long period of Labour rule, but not right now. You'll see why in the next chapter.
 
Personal Politics


"Hoping for a Heath win. Otherwise we're in a bad fix indeed."

Journal of Foreign Secretary Roy Jenkins, 20 May


"During the 1974 contest, the difference was as much personality as ideology. Heath was perceived as an imperial leader who neglected the feelings of his caucus, even the 1922 Committee. Privately he regarded them as ambitious has-beens, "expired cabinet material" to be precise. Whereas Robert Kennedy was warm, friendly, attentive to his fellow Members and often solicited others' opinion. Kennedy had many friends on the 1922 Committee and in caucus, including the Chairman, Edward du Cannes. Nor did he hesitate to use them."

20th Century Conservative Party, Sir Martin Gilbert, 2006

"The rules correlated more to Vietnam than Christmas 1914, and it was mutual. Within the bounds of legality of course."

In the Arena, Robert Kennedy, 1996


"Vote next week, completely confident in victory. No more than 20 or 25, but that's enough."

Robert's journal, 3 June


"We have been seriously concerned over the state of our beloved party over these past few years. I urge all Conservative Members to vote their conscience."

"Magic Circle", Harold Macmillan, Rab Butler, Sir Alec Douglas-Home

Conservative leadership ballot, 11 Jun

"Speed it up Ed. This shouldn't take more than ninety minutes."

- Robert to 1922 Chairman Edward du Cannes

1st ballot- 263 votes

Robert Kennedy: 157
Edward Heath: 106
Majority: 25


"Having received more than 50% of all votes on the first ballot, I hereby proclaim Robert F. Kennedy the new Leader of the Conservative Party! Now we will hear Sir Robert's acceptance speech."


- Ed du Cannes announcing final results.


"That little bastard."


- Ted Heath on hearing the results


"This is BBC Breaking News, Robert Kennedy has just been elected Conservative Leader and Leader of the Opposition. He beat Ted Heath by twenty-five votes on the first and only ballot. Let's listen to his speech."



"I enthusiastically accept the honour of leading this great party. There is a choice to be made, between the forces of unfettered statism and the forces of Conservatism. Previously, we have heard the word "containment" ad infinitum. Working within the ever-elusive "consensus". I say, why not forge a new consensus, and let us begin the next stage: ROLLBACK. We must sweep aside the stranglehold of suffocating statism..."

- Robert Kennedy's leadership acceptance speech, 11 June 1974


After an inaugural caucus meeting the following day, Willie Whitelaw was appointed House Leader and shadow Home Secretary, with a reshuffle of the Shadow Cabinet, including Francis Pym as shadow Defence Secretary. In the Lords, Robert asked Lord Carrington to serve as shadow Foreign Secretary.

"My plan is simple. All the people in senior portfolios are eminences grises, therefore there won't be overtly ambitious souls making mischief. I've pegged Heseltine as a potential troublemaker. He might get Health, because I have others in mind for Employment and Education."

- Robert's journal, 26 September

"When Wilson was Prime Minister for the second time, Prime Minister's Questions on Tuesdays and Thursdays obtained record viewership by the standards of the day. Repartee was mostly humourous and calm. That would not be the case further down the road."

- British Conservatives in the 20th Century, Sir Martin Gilbert, 2006


"Enroute to India to meet Mrs Gandhi, tour Delhi & Mumbai, almost a mini-vacation. M's got an important case before the H.C. tomorrow, therefore she can't come. Don't know if she'd enjoy this in any case. No journalists are with me, which is perfect. I don't want this ruined by some arsehole asking about the sterilization program."


Robert's journal, 9 October

"Productive talks with Mrs Gandhi across the board, ranging from Indo-American relations, UK-India, the WP situation, and much more. Warned her that action will be taken if one of our companies is involved in Sanjay's rackets. He cannot be allowed to succeed her, and I think she understands this."

- Robert's journal, 13 October

"Mumbai business luncheon went swimmingly. They want someone with whom they can do business, but clearly want a Tory govt. to implement a FTA."

Robert's journal, 15 October

"Great Xmas as usual. Got the keys to a blue Jag from M. and other assorted things. I've sent cards to many MPs wishing them a Merry Xmas, and got one from the PM as well."

Robert's journal, 27 December

The winter of 1975 was relatively uneventful, as South Vietnam prepared to hold its third presidential election. Finally, Prime Minister Ky would oppose President Thieu's bid for a third term.

DELHI

"Been increasingly worried over Sanjay's activities. Had to order a halt to the demolition downtown because historical neighbourhoods were being destroyed. I've gotten the family-planning program under control, but there's so much to do in a day..."

Diary of Indira Gandhi, Feb. 4, 1975

Feb. 26- BNOC CREATED, COMPANY BEGINS OPS JAN.1

HANSARD- 10/03/75

SPEAKER: The Rt. Hon. the Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER WILSON: This proposed inheritance tax will only apply to those earning over £100,000, which combined with our closing of the loopholes in the estate tax legislation, will substantially increase taxation revenues over the next three years.
SPEAKER: The Rt. Hon. Leader of the Opposition.
ROBERT KENNEDY: These additional tax burdens would not be necessary if the Government could control domestic spending. We have had the Christmas £10 bonuses, an additional Crown corporation in the form of BNOC, and now increased expenses on pensions. Unfortunately the figures show a £250 million deficit for the upcoming fiscal year."
PRIME MINISTER WILSON: In addition to being indebted to our creditors, we are indebted to our senior citizens, which is why the Government has tabled the proposed pension increase.
ROBERT KENNEDY: "Might I remind the Prime Minister that we are also indebted to future generations, increasingly so after this most recent budget..."

END OF TRANSCRIPT

DELHI- 12/06/75

"Judgement for the plaintiff. The Prime Minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi, is hereby banned from political activity for five years, and her election as the Member of Parliament from Rae Bareilly is declared null and void. Mrs Gandhi must vacate her Lok Sabha seat, and the Congress Party must make alternative leadership arrangements in the interim."

-Verdict of Allahabad High Court

June 25- PM DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY, MISA INVOKED

"Been busy on the BBQ circuit these last weeks. Somehow seems more enjoyable than last year. Concerns over rising prices predominate voters' concerns."

Robert's journal, 23 July

Sept. 5- SAIGON GOES TO THE POLLS, TURNOUT REPORTEDLY MEDIUM

South Vietnamese Presidential election, 1975

Nguyen Van Thieu (I): 46.8%
Nguyen Cao Ky: 44.2%
Duong Van Minh: 10%

Runoff

Nguyen Van Thieu: 50.8%
Nguyen Cao Ky: 49.2%

Incumbent President: Nguyen Van Thieu

Nov. 11- WHITLAM DISMISSED, OZ GOES TO POLLS DEC. 12

Nov. 20: "Happy birthday to me. M gave me the keys to a factory-fresh blue Jag today. Great family reunion. Turning 50 quite different from 40 ten years ago."

- Robert's journal

Jan. 7, 1976: INDIAN PARL'T DISSOLVED, GO TO POLLS MAR. 4

"My time has nearly come, though if we want it in the news it'll have to wait till after the Indian election."

Journal of Harold Wilson, 10 Feb.

Indian federal election, 1976

542 Lok Sabha seats

Congress: 353 seats (+6)
Janata: 189 seats

Amethi

Sanjay Gandhi (INC): 73,667

Incumbent Prime Minister: Indira Gandhi (INC)

Mar. 12: PM WILSON RESIGNS, LABOUR BALLOTING TOMORROW

Labour leadership ballot, 1976

361 votes

1st round

Michael Foot: 165
James Callaghan: 147
Roy Jenkins: 49

2nd round

Michael Foot: 200
James Callaghan: 161

FOOT NEW PM, TO BE SWORN IN TOMORROW

"We just won the next election yesterday, though I'll have to wait to move into No. 10..."

Robert's journal, 14 March

Until the next posting...
 
Foot's Slippery Footing



May 13- CARDIFF TEXTILE WORKERS WALK OUT

"Will the government act to save our community, or surrender to the unions' blackmail?"- Anonymous Cardiff resident

HANSARD 03/06/76

SPEAKER: The Rt. Hon. Leader of the Opposition.
ROBERT KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, I wish to insert a letter which was written to me by a concerned citizen on the subject of the ongoing industrial dispute at Cardiff.

"Dear Mr Kennedy,

I live in Cardiff, and the ongoing dispute has wrecked the quality of life in this once-pleasant neighbourhood. Previously there were annual company picnics and socialization in which management and workers both participated. Since the dispute began, no one speaks to their neighbours anymore. Streets are silent at dawn, noon or midnight regardless of the day. Occasionally violence will erupt, with car windows smashed, tires punctured, including physical violence by strikers against scabs. My husband is a manager at the textile company and was forced to accept armed guards at our home because of the threats. Both our sons are in the military, one in the Navy, and the other in the Air Force. Due to the situation, we haved moved into family residential quarters on base. We are no longer safe in our own home. All the government is doing is abandoning hardworking, decent citizens like us to appease the unions. You sir, are the only one who can save our community.

Yours sincerely, Elizabeth Warden

"Unacceptable. Simply outrageous and intolerable that a taxpaying citizen no longer feels safe in her own neighbourhood. What will the Prime Minister do, apart from appointing a Royal Commission, along with a Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry, and waiting two years for the report?"

PRIME MINISTER FOOT: "Negotiations are underway..."

ROBERT KENNEDY: "The law must be enforced, and the government must reassert its authority. Who runs Cardiff?"

END OF TRANSCRIPT

July 18- SANJAY GANDHI ASSN'D NEAR DELHI IN DRIVE-BY SHOOTING, UNDERWORLD SUSPECTED

Aug. 3: "Enroute to meet Marcos in Manila. Looking forward to this meeting. Want to see if the fabled shoe closet really does exist. If it really holds 10,000 pairs, than there is a Santa Claus."

- Robert's journal

P.M. MARCOS: "Let him in, cancel everything till Cabinet at 4:30."
...

MARCOS: "The issue, as we're both aware, is that the majority of Filipinos live below the poverty line. Presently, I have ordered infrastructure projects, regional development, and increased educational opportunities. What is really necessary is something like the American GI Bill of Rights, to transform the blue-collars into a middle class. Unfortunately, I do not believe the economy could undergo such a shock, and there is no easy solution within my framework."

KENNEDY: Somewhat easier in this new parliamentary system though.

MARCOS: Precisely. You and I know the boy will die on the vine. When you hear what he's proposing, tantamount to grand statism similar to what the Labour government in Britain is doing, it will shock you. He seeks the approval of businessmen and latte-drinking Manilenos. An exercise in futility. I don't know if he knows it, but they look down on him, as much as the Manilenos regard them as their hero. What I do know is this. He wants the titles, the plane and "Hail to the Chief." Having endorsed my project, how can he oppose me? Credibility is completely shot. For you and I, the perks mean almost nothing. All these things we can procure privately with greater efficiency. What counts is public service..."

"Marcos, Lee and Mrs Gandhi should form the "Asian Troika", for they're clearly the cream of the crop out here. More so the first two."

- Robert's journal, 10 August

As the industrial dispute dragged on, violence erupted in Cardiff. Three strikers were shot by police on the 12th, and on the 14th Prime Minister Foot announced a settlement of a 6% pay increase and reduced hours. This was strongly condemned by Robert Kennedy and his Tories in Parliament, with the most eloquent denunciations coming from himself, Enoch Powell and Reg Prentice, the former Labour MP, now a Conservative. Kennedy knew that he would win the next general election, but "so much of politics is waiting. Waiting for the right moment to strike, pull the plug, everything. You can't be political without patience. Unfortunately Foot is not patient, he's pathetic."

WASHINGTON D.C.

Ronald Reagan was not happy. Disdained by President Rockefeller, who infinitely preferred non-candidate Sen. George Bush, disliked by many moderates within the Republican Party, he had captured the nomination easily against Senators Percy and Dole. For his running mate, he had chosen Sen. Roudebush of Indiana, a Midwestern conservative in the Dole mold. The Democrats had nominated Henry Jackson and Lloyd Bentsen, and were narrowly leading in the polls. After a quarter-century of Republicans in the White House...

Nov. 2, 1976- Democratic, Republican (to avoid confusion)

genusmap.php



(D): Henry M. Jackson/ Lloyd M. Bentsen: 307 ECV, 54.4%
(R): Ronald W. Reagan/ Richard Roudebush: 231 ECV, 44.6%

Incumbent President: Nelson Rockefeller (R)
President-elect: Scoop Jackson (D)

As 1977 dawned, a new American administration was taking office and Prime Minister Foot's Government had replaced the Industrial Relations Act of 1970 with the new Industrial Relations Act of 1977. As outlined in the platform, there was increased emphasis on consultation and cooperation between labour and management. Immediately following, there was...

"Spades of statist social engineering, such as the Family Planning Commission and child cash allowance. Both were billed by Mr Foot as "free". There is no such thing as a free lunch. What said recipients are "free" from is the responsibility of having to pay for government services. Their burden is shifted to the taxpayers, who have already seen soaring living expenses as I speak."

- Robert Kennedy on the stump near Lincolnshire, Feb. 16, 1977

"Recently, viewership of Prime Minister's Questions has set record highs. Labour voters are disgusted at the Prime Minister's performance. One backbench Labour MP spoke to Robin Day recently on this subject. What was his take on PMQs Robin?"

ROBIN DAY- "He summed it up quite succinctly. The PM's a professor, Kennedy's a lawyer. Under most circumstances, that could backfire, but it seems only to confirm Foot's perceived image as a vacillating captive of events."

Questions and Answers, April 2

PM UNDER INCREASING FIRE IN MEDIA, PARLIAMENT

Amethi by-election, May 10

Rajiv Gandhi: 80,326 (INC)

"We need to stop the presses immediately. Otherwise this will be the end of our hopes for next time."

- Prime Minister Foot

June 6- EDUCATION SEC CASTLE ADMITS AFFAIR WITH STAFFER HALF HER AGE, RESIGNS POST, WILL FIGHT NEXT ELECTION

"I found out from a source who it is. Will call Bobby as soon as I get home."

- Jack Kennedy's journal, 6 June

JACK- "I heard the kid might've been offered a shot in the next election."
BOBBY- "He's finished for good now. We're having enough trouble keeping Teddy under wraps as it is."

Who is the mystery staffer?



9212971_b20c826107.jpg



"Mrs Castle has resigned from Cabinet. I consider this matter closed."

- Prime Minister Foot's statement to the press

"We could go on a morality campaign, but I'll let the voters judge for themselves."

Robert's journal, 9 June

"The Prime Minister cannot control his Cabinet, so how can he run the country?"

Robert Kennedy on the stump, July 6

TELEGRAPH WEEKLY POLLING

VOTING INTENTIONS

CONSERVATIVE: 56%
LABOUR: 38%
LIBERAL DEMOCRAT: 6%

HAS THE CASTLE AFFAIR AFFECTED YOUR VIEWS ON GOVT PERFORMANCE?

YES: 78%
NO: 22%

"Trust me sir, the seat projections are positively ghastly."

- Peter Mandelson to Prime Minister Foot

On Oct. 3, another EEC vote was held in the Commons.

NO: 329
YES: 306

What gripped the minds of many that autumn was the possibility of a spring election. With stagflation on the rise, an increasingly drifting Government, and a lacklustre Prime Minister, the Conservatives were poised for their biggest victory since Lord Salisbury's nearly eighty years before.

What about Ted?

Ted. The "id" of the family. After law school, he took a managerial position, but never settled down. Both Jack and Bobby were intensely irritated at the constant need to put out potentially scandalous fires and keep an eye on him. As Bobby wrote in an excised portion of his published journals:

"He's my brother and I love him. But the constant confessions and hijinks belong on Oprah. I've never seen such a psychodrama, until the Clintons. If he had a different name, he could make a fortune off a book deal. Sometimes I wonder about making planeloads of money off immorality. Thankfully Castle will not write a book. Too dirty. Perhaps I need another vacation, preferably in Jamaica. Likely just after Xmas."

"We need free trade. Though it will have to wait till after the British election."

-Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney

"The winter of 1978 was one of the toughest in this century. Energy shortages were rife, and the four-day week, with Fridays known as Foot's Follies, daycare shortages and inner-city rioting. Britons were reminded of how badly both Conservative and Labour governments had managed the country. What was different was that Britons had a man they trusted, in the person of Robert Kennedy. He was more popular than the Conservative Party, his platform and far more than his team. To such a degree that he once told Willie Whitelaw of the need to "talk down these stratospheric numbers. Otherwise we'll create unrealistic expectations which will boomerang when I'm going for Round Two."

"I will not challenge Foot for the leadership, because who wants to take command of the Titanic five seconds before impact?"

Journal of Foreign Secretary Roy Jenkins, Feb. 26, 1978

Apr. 10- PARL'T DISSOLVED FOR MAY 8 ELECTIONS


Great Britain vs. Fate of Britain

"The 1978 campaign was one of two competing visions for Britain. One party promised freedom from uncertainty. The other promised freedom from "Gov Gov", a sly reference to both statism, babysitting and Labour's heavily concealed republicanism. As the campaign wore on, it seemed that Labour had lost its energy. Though the Tories had also presided over a dysfunctional government, in which Robert Kennedy had served as the most senior Cabinet member, and had been in power for all for 80% of the time since 1900, everything seemed new. Kennedy, though he had been in Parliament for nearly a quarter-century, was a generation younger than most of the Labour MPs, and if elected, would be one of the youngest Prime Ministers in British history at age 52. The Conservative platform, one of the "bluest", in Kennedy's words, in modern history, was a welcome change from the much-mocked consensus of postwar British politics."

British Conservatives in the 20th Century, Sir Martin Gilbert, 2006

"As the campaign wore on, every crowd seemed to give me more energy to attack the complete ineptitude of the Labour Government. My worries about expectations were justified, for the receptions gave an observer the impression that I was about to be canonized. Even more amazing, the press managed to avoid mentioning the religious issue. Now I've removed it from consideration in future election. What I intensely dislike are the other side's artificial benchmarks, first woman, first Catholic, youngest, etc. Meritocracy is my motto. Period."

-In the Arena, Robert Kennedy, 1996

On May 8, 1978, Britons went to the polls.

BBC ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE

ROBIN DAY: "First preliminary returns trickling in here. As of 7:30 p.m. the Conservatives hold 14 seats, Labour 8, Liberals 3."
ROBERT MCKENZIE: "Do we have any results from either leader's seat?"
DAY: "Yes we do. Just in, Prime Minister Foot has been re-elected as MP for with 56% of the vote."
MCKENZIE: "Some more results for you. As of 7:45 we have the following seat projections: Conservatives, elected 38, leading 10. Labour: elected, 16, leading, 6. Liberals: elected 5, leading 2.
DAY: "Conservative Leader Robert Kennedy has been declared elected in his Kensington and Chelsea constituency with 64% of the vote, which is the highest margin we've seen so far."
BREAKING NEWS: PROJECTION

DAY: The time is now 8 p.m. All the polls have closed across Britain. We can now project that the Conservative Party will form the next Government and Robert Kennedy will be invited to kiss hands, hence becoming Prime Minister..."

BREAKING NEWS: "Duly elected."

DAY: "The 318th Conservative MP has been elected. Robert Kennedy will, once emerging from the Palace, have become Prime Minister..."

REUTERS WIRE 08/08/78

LONDON- TORIES ELECTED WITH MAJORITY GOVT, KENNEDY NEW PRIME MINISTER STOP CONSERVATIVES PROJECTED TO WIN OVER 360 SEATS STOP FOOT WILL CONCEDE SHORTLY STOP

"Here's Robert Kennedy live."

PRIME MINISTER ROBERT KENNEDY: "I have just been invited by Her Majesty the Queen to form the next Government of the United Kingdom. Regardless of whom you voted for, let us join together in building a new Britain."

"We won a great victory tonight, and it will not be the last. Our journey has only begun. There will be more nights like tonight, and I will be here, addressing you, my fellow Conservatives. Thank you to all our hard working staff and volunteers, the team, and of course my wife, Margaret and our children. I bid you an affectionate good night."

- Prime Minister Kennedy's victory speech at Conservative Central Office

UK general election, 1978

635 Commons seats

Conservative: 409 seats (+136), 54.7%
Labour: 220 seats
Liberal: 6 seats

Incumbent Prime Minister: Michael Foot (Labour)
Subsequent Prime Minister: Robert Kennedy (Cons)



 
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What happened was that TR sat out the 1912 election, allowing Wilson over 500 ECV, and gained the GOP nomination in '16. The US had been involved since mid-1915, because TR, like his cousin needed time to convince the US public.

If TR didn't run in 1912 there would be so many butterflies that Taft probably would have won.
 
Like many fellow AHers, school resumes soon. I'll try to post the next chapter on the weekend, but progress will be halted for the foreseeable future. I'll still be lurking in PolChat though...
 
I'll reduce the text size in future. As for the kids, Joe Jr was killed and Jack had to go into the family business of press baronage to ensure continuity. Ted is well, Ted as we knew him until the early 90's IOTL. Lastly, this will not be the last generation of Kennedys in political life. Perhaps this might be a good time to mention the family's activities. I dearly wish we could get a colour family photo in front of No 10...

Jack: Press baron, owner of the Telegraph and Daily Mail. Married to Victoria Kennedy (nee Peterson). Two kids, Jack Jr and Rebecca.
Ted: Married to Joan Patteson Kennedy, tech editor of the Daily Mail.
JFK Jr: Freshman law student at Oxford.
Rebecca: Finishing public school.
RFK Jr: Senior medical student at Cambridge. Destination: Opthamology. Like his father, another Dr Bob. (RFK got a Law Doctorate in 1950)
Joe Jr: Novelist, currently one child on the way.
Elizabeth: Public school, accepted into Oxford in the Dept of Near Eastern Studies.
 
This TL is closed, redirected to the upcoming Civvus Romanus Sum. Here's the PM list...

Sir Robert F. Kennedy (Tory) 8 May 1978- 30 November 1993
Michael Heseltine (Tory) 30 November 1993- 10 April 1995
Gordon Brown (Labour) 10 April 1995- 8 June 2007
Sir Conrad Black (Tory) 8 June 2007-present
 
I am considering redoing HWE to the standards of Cradling Camelot, Flight of Fate and A Time to Remember. Would there be any interest?
 
I think you should. It's funny, actually, I was just looking through this timeline again about a half hour ago! Yes, I definitely think you should.:)
 
Hmm...I don't know, will it take away your time spent on other Time Lines? It's up to you, but I'm kind of looking forward to the CC updates you promised (unless I missed those).

Also, you used to use a differetn style of font in your posts. Why did you stop?:)
 
Well, I know that no one's in the mood for a new Flight of Fate- even I'm getting a little tired. :p After ATOR is finished, I plan to do another TL, this one with a POD in the 1980s. Then my schedule is clear for most of the summer.
 

Deleted member 9259


Robert graduated Summa Cum Laude from Oxford in June 1948, and thereafter began working as a corporate lawyer in downtown London.

It's a minor point, but we don't have the Latin honours system in Britain. The nearest equivalent would be graduating with First Class Honours.
 
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